System and method for automatically sharing information between handheld devices

Abstract

A system and method for automatic relevance-base sharing information between handheld devices are provided. A centralized location stores interest profiles of a plurality of users of handheld devices. A profile agent and a sharing agent in a computing device obtain, from the centralized location, a list of users with profiles similar to the profile of a user operating the computing device and mark sharable items of such user with users to whom the item is relevant. The synchronizer synchronizes the list and the marked sharable items to the handheld device of the user operating the computing device. The logic embedded in the handheld device allows automatic relevance-based sharing of items between the handheld device and other handheld devices.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of automatically sharing user-relevant information between handheld devices, the method comprising: 
       storing interest profiles of a plurality of users of handheld devices in a centralized location, the centralized location allowing a user to share his/her profile with others;  
       obtaining from the centralized location a list of users with profiles similar to the profile of the user;  
       marking a sharable item of the user with users to whom the item is relevant;  
       synchronizing the list and the marked sharable items to the user's handheld device; and  
       providing automatic relevance-based sharing of items, including the sharable item, between the handheld device of the user and another handheld device, wherein the sharing may be initiated by the handheld device of the user or the other handheld device.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the user is a recipient of a sharing session initiated by the other handheld device, a query is made into the synchronized list to see if the user of the other handheld device has similar interest. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the user is a sender of a sharing session initiated by the other handheld device, a query is made into the synchronized marked sharable items for items relevant to the user of the other handheld device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the handheld devices are systems with low processing power as compared to a personal computer. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a user interface mechanism on the user's handheld device that allows the user to initiate sharing either as a recipient or a sender. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a user interface front end to the list and the marked sharable items that allows the user to modify them, set their own list and marked sharable items, or set the rules for making the list and marked sharable items. 
     
     
       7. A system for automatic relevance-base sharing information between handheld devices, comprising: 
       a centralized location that stores interest profiles of a plurality of users of handheld devices;  
       a profile agent in a computing device that obtains from the centralized location a list of users with profiles similar to the profile of a user operating the computing device;  
       a sharing agent in the computer device that marks a sharable item of the user operating the computing device with users to whom the item is relevant;  
       a synchronizer that synchronizes the list and the marked sharable items to a first handheld device, which is a handheld device of the user operating the computing device; and  
       logic embedded in the first handheld device that allows automatic relevance-based sharing of items, including the sharable item, between the first handheld device and a second handheld device, wherein if the user is a recipient of a sharing session initiated by the second handheld device, a query is made into the synchronized list to see if the user of the other handheld device has similar interest, and if the user is a sender of a sharing session initiated by the second handheld device, a query is made into the synchronized marked sharable items for items relevant to the user of the second handheld device.  
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the computing device is a personal computer, and the handheld devices are personal digital assistants. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the handheld devices are systems with low processing power. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , further comprising user interface mechanisms on the first and second handheld devices that allows the user of the first handheld device or the user of the second handheld device to initiate sharing either as a recipient or a sender. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a share information database that includes the list and the marked sharable items, wherein the synchronizer synchronizes the share information database instead of the list and the marked sharable items, and the share information database includes an item table for storing type and location information of particular items, a similar user table for storing similar user information, and a item interest table for storing share item information. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the synchronizer allows transfer of the share information database, or a portion thereof, from the first handheld device to the computing device. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a user interface front end to the share information database that allows the user operating the computing device to modify information stored in the share information database, set his/her own information, or set rules for the profile agent or the sharing agent. 
     
     
       14. An automatic handheld sharing method for a handheld device of a sender, the sharing between the handheld device and a handheld device of a recipient being initiated by the recipient, the method comprising: 
       receiving a beamed request for relevant items, along with the recipient's identification information;  
       querying a share information database in the handheld device of the sender for items relevant to the recipient using recipient's identification information, wherein the share information database includes sharable items on the handheld device of the sender, the sharable items being marked with users to whom the sharable items are relevant;  
       returning an item or set of items relevant to the recipient from the query; and  
       beaming the relevant item to the handheld device of the recipient.  
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the share information database is created in and synchronized from a computing device operated by the sender. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the marked sharable items is included in an item interest table, the item interest table including an item identification field for denoting sharable items, a user identification field for denoting users to whom the sharable items are relevant, and an interest level field for indicating the interest level of the users in the sharable items. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising beaming a portion of the share information database corresponding to the beamed item to the handheld device of the recipient. 
     
     
       18. An automatic handheld sharing method for a handheld device of a recipient, the sharing between the handheld device and a handheld device of a sender being initiated by the sender, the method comprising: 
       receiving an intent to beam relevant item from the handheld device of the sender;  
       receiving the sender's identification information along with the intent;  
       querying a share information database in the handheld device of the recipient to determine if the sender has similar interests using sender's identification information, wherein the share information database includes a list of users with profiles similar to the profile of the recipient; and  
       accepting a subsequent item or set of items if it is determined that the sender has similar interests.  
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the intent to beam relevant item is symbolized by a relevant item being received, the relevant item being the subsequent item accepted. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the share information database is created in and synchronized from a computing device operated by the recipient. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving an intent to share relevant item from the handheld device of the sender, wherein the query is performed after the handheld device of the recipient receives and acknowledges such intent. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising prompting the recipient for guidance if it is determined that the sender does not have similar interests. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the list of users is included in a similar user table, the similar user table including a user identification field for denoting users with profiles similar to that of the recipient and a similarity score filed for indicating the degree of similarity between each user's profile and the recipient's profile. 
     
     
       24. A computer readable medium for use in conjunction with a handheld device of a sender for automatic sharing between the handheld device of the sender and a handheld device of a recipient, the sharing being initiated by the recipient, the computer readable medium including computer readable instructions encoded thereon for: 
       receiving a beamed request for relevant items, along with the recipient's identification information;  
       querying a share information database in the handheld device of the sender for items relevant to the recipient using recipient's identification information, wherein the share information database includes sharable items on the handheld device of the sender, the sharable items being marked with users to whom the sharable items are relevant;  
       returning an item relevant to the recipient from the query; and  
       beaming the relevant item to the handheld device of the recipient.  
     
     
       25. The computer readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the share information database is created in and synchronized from a computing device operated by the sender. 
     
     
       26. The computer readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the marked sharable items is included in an item interest table, the item interest table including an item identification field for denoting sharable items, a user identification field for denoting users to whom the sharable items are relevant, and an interest level field for indicating the interest level of the users in the sharable items. 
     
     
       27. The computer readable medium of  claim 24 , further comprising computer readable instruction encoded thereon for beaming a portion of the share information database corresponding to the beamed item to the handheld device of the recipient. 
     
     
       28. A computer readable medium for use in conjunction with a handheld device of a recipient for automatic sharing between a handheld device of a sender and the handheld device of the recipient, the sharing being initiated by the sender, the computer readable medium including computer readable instructions encoded thereon for: 
       receiving a relevant item beamed from the handheld device of the sender;  
       receiving the sender's identification information along with the relevant item;  
       querying a share information database in the handheld device of the recipient to determine if the sender has similar interests using sender's identification information, wherein the share information database includes a list of users with profiles similar to the profile of the recipient; and  
       accepting the relevant item if it is determined that the sender has similar interests.  
     
     
       29. The computer readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the share information database is created in and synchronized from a computing device operated by the recipient. 
     
     
       30. The computer readable medium of  claim 28 , further comprising computer readable instruction encoded thereon for receiving an intent to share relevant item from the handheld device of the sender, wherein the query is performed after the handheld device of the recipient receives and acknowledges such intent. 
     
     
       31. The computer readable medium of  claim 28 , further comprising computer readable instruction encoded thereon for prompting the recipient for guidance if it is determined that the sender does not have similar interests. 
     
     
       32. The computer readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the list of users is included in a similar user table, the similar user table including a user identification field for denoting users with profiles similar to that of the recipient and a similarity score filed for indicating the degree of similarity between each user's profile and the recipient's profile. 
     
     
       33. A centralized location to be utilized for automatic relevance-base sharing between handheld devices, comprising: 
       a users and profiles database for storing user information and user profiles;  
       a profile similarity analyzer for analyzing and marking user profiles that are similar; and  
       functionality for updating and extracting information from the users and profiles database, wherein the functionality for updating and extracting information receives a user profile from a computing device and returns, to the computing device, a list of centralized location users who have profiles similar to the user profile.  
     
     
       34. The centralized location of  claim 33 , wherein the functionality for updating and extracting information also returns profile information of the centralized location users with similar profiles. 
     
     
       35. The centralized location of  claim 33 , wherein the functionality for updating and extracting information also receives an item, or a set of items, from the computing device and returns, to the computing device, a list of users to whom the item, or a set of items, is relevant. 
     
     
       36. The centralized location of  claim 33 , wherein the functionality for updating and extracting information including a user request handler, an update user profile portion, a get similar profile portion. 
     
     
       37. The centralized location of  claim 35 , wherein the functionality for updating and extracting information also includes a get relevant users portion.